Rumor Xbox 3 Launch In 2012 & Dev Kits Before Xmas

The Xbox 3 rumors continue to come out despite Microsoft’s silence. This latest set of rumors comes from Edge.

According to their sources Electronic Arts & Ubisoft Montreal are in possession of “target boxes” for the Xbox 3. What is a target box? Basically it is a personal computer with similar specs to the final product. Think of it kind of like a “pre-development kit”, it may lack all of the fine-tuned elements that those kits bring. The first versions of the development kit are expected to hit developer's doorsteps by Christmas.

The second part of the rumor is where things get murky. If Edges’ sources are correct then everything is on track for a 2012 launch for the Xbox 3. The release date of the next Xbox is a point of contention. Some fans & industry analysts believe that the third Xbox should arrive sometime in 2012 while others believe 2013.

Regardless of the authenticity of this rumor it, the first part falls in line with previous speculation that came out of E3 that big publishers like EA & Ubisoft had development hardware already.

Source: Edge Via Kotaku

Happy Birthday Xbox!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, XBOX! You still look great ;)

Be sure to drop by our Remembering The Xbox article!rates their 10th birthday today.

Need For Speed The Run Available Now

The best-selling racing franchise of all time is back -- and the stakes have never been higher. Get ready to race for your life in a heart-pounding cross-country race from the Golden Gate to the Empire State as Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that Need for Speed™ The Run is now available at retail stores in North America. Need for Speed The Run has already earned a perfect 5/5 from Stuff Magazine, while Men’s Health heralds the game for its “killer racing action ." Univision highlights Need for Speed The Run for its “spectacular cars and intense racing" and GameTrailers declares the game “a blast to drive.”

Featuring an all-star cast including Mad Men star Christina Hendricks, Never Back Down’s Sean Faris, 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model Irina Shayk and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Chrissy Teigen, Need for Speed The Run takes players on a thrilling cross-country race known simply as “The Run.” With $25 million on the line, players take the wheel as Jack Rourke navigating thousands of miles of treacherous terrain from San Francisco to New York squaring off against 200 other racers all while evading the cops and the mob, who are hot on his trail.

“This is the biggest, fastest and most dangerous Need for Speed game yet,” said Jason DeLong, Executive Producer, Need for Speed The Run. “Need for Speed The Run delivers the series’ trademark thrilling racing and ups the ante with incredible action sequences and stunning performances from our all-star cast.”

And the action doesn’t stop when players cross the finish line in New York. Need for Speed The Run delivers an addictive challenge series and highly-competitive multiplayer. The acclaimed Autolog feature also returns , delivering moment-by-moment performance feedback to ensure players are always in head-to-head competition with friends, enemies and online competitors.

The expansive vistas and impressive tactile environment in The Run are made possible by the Frostbite™ 2 engine. The raw power of the DICE game engine, that enhanced real time warfare in Battlefield 3, enabled the massive scale and scope of Need for Speed The Run from visually stunning courses like the slippery slopes of Independence Pass, CO to the hottest vehicles, including the all-new 2012 Porsche Carrera S and 2012 Lamborghini Aventador

DmC Devs Reportedly Offering Top Players Early Access to Game

Ninja Theory may be seeking feedback from top Devil May Cry players on the series' reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry, according to reports from Joystiq via NeoGAF. According to one forum post, a well-known DMC player received the following from someone claiming to be a developer representative -- I’m part of the team currently developing the new Devil May Cry title at Ninja Theory and I wanted to get in touch to see if you’d like to come in and play the game. Essentially I’m inviting in a very select few really top end DMC players to come and play through a section of the game and talk to some of our team about your experience.

We’ll pay for travel to and from the studio and will also provide lunch. Let me know if this sounds of interest and I can give you some more details. For the moment though, this remains unconfirmed, though we wouldn't be surprised to see Ninja Theory paying closer attention to DMC's die-hard fanbase as they work on a re-imagined version of the game. We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more. If you want to dig deeper, check out the NeoGAF thread.

EA President Confirms Battlefield 4

In news that shouldn't really surprise anyone, IGN is reporting that EA President Frank Gibeau revealed the existence of Battlefield 4 today.

During a keynote at the Unversity of Southern California, Gibeau apparently let slip that "there is going to be a Battlefield 4", the first such mention of a fourth Battlefield title by anyone at the publisher.

Still, considering Battlefield 3's strong sales, today's news should come as no real surprise.

TeamXbox Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Review

Love it or hate it, there is no doubt that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is going to be the biggest selling game of the year, and that creates a lot of expectations. We take a look at the game in our review and find that while Modern Warfare 3 may not innovate the genre or veer too far from the (scripted) path that Infinity Ward set up 4 years ago, it does provide a hell of an experience.

Read The Full Modern Warfare Review .

Halo Anniversary Maps Coming To Reach As DLC

Looking forward to Halo: CE Anniversary’s campaign, firefight and multiplayer modes but don’t want to shell out a full $40? The six multiplayer maps, as well as the Firefight map Installation 04, that are included in the Halo CE Anniversary package will be released as downloadable content for Reach starting Tuesday November 15th.

So if the Halo CE campaign with new graphics doesn’t quite grab you, and we don’t blame you with the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Modern Warfare 3 and Saint’s Row being released within the same week then this $15 DLC bundle might be for you.